Tetris Blitz Review

Tetris Blitz is a new version of the popular Tetris game where you race against the clock in a two-minute blitz to clear lines and rack up points.

There’s fun to be had in short bursts with Tetris Blitz, but it just feels way too engineered to be fun, rather than anything naturally-occurring.

Compatibility: Universal
Released: May 23, 2013
Price: FREE
Size: 38.9 MB
Language: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Seller: Electronic Arts

To describe the state of Tetris Blitz, one only needs to listen to its music. It’s the classic Tetris theme, “Korobeiniki,” but vaguely dubstepped. There’s a good idea here, but someone was intentionally trying to be popular. It is kinda cool, sort-of, but the inauthenticity can grate.

The gameplay is pretty much what it says on the tin – it’s the classic Tetris gameplay of making lines with tetrominoes, except now in two-minute bursts. There are powerups that can be bought with coins and used to enable powerup blocks that have actions like pulling all blocks to the left, or triggering avalanches. There’s also a weekly powerup that cycles every week, and it can be bought permanently with an in-app purchase.

For the fast-paced Blitz-style gameplay, the instant drop control scheme where players can just tap on a spot to drop a block works very well here. It’s easy to drag the block to the exact desired spot or to just tap the ‘cycle’ button on the left to get new locations. For a game that requires quick thinking, it’s a perfect fit.

And really, the Blitz-style actually fits Tetris Blitz well. Increasing the multiplier is done by getting Tetrises(clearing four lines at once), which presents a balance between specifically trying to get Tetrises to increase the multiplier, and making normal matches for points, which also triggers Frenzy mode. This mode has blocks cascading down to earn more points as more matches are made, but it also makes getting Tetrises more difficult. The balance here, plus the quick sessions, makes for an addictive game. Facebook login provides cloud syncing for saving, which is a minor miracle.

Yet, the problem is that it just feels so inauthentic. Like, it feels like someone decided to apply the “Blitz” formula to the game because it could make money, rather than as a natural extension of it. All the coins and cash-grabs make me feel at least a little bit cynical. At least it’s possible to permanently buy the powerup of the week and get unlimited use for $1.99, at least while it is featured. Having it free forever would be nice, but hey – this is EA we’re talking about.

So, while Tetris Blitz is without a doubt a fun game, that overwhelming sense that it’s a corporate creation restrains me from loving it completely. There are a lot of great ideas here, though.

App Store Description:

Race against the clock in a two-minute blitz to clear lines and rack up as many points as possible before time runs out! With all-new features, stunning visuals, and innovative controls, this twist on the world-famous puzzle game is a must-have on mobile.

“…a perfect mobile game…” (Examiner.com)
“…the engaging mayhem that is Tetris Blitz wouldn’t let me tear my eyes off those blocks.” (Polygon)

SHATTER HIGH SCORES
Supercharge your game and trigger point-boosting reactions with Power-ups, like Magnet, Laser, and Time Shift. With a new Power-up released every week, the strategic combinations are endless!

FEEL THE FRENZY
Experience explosive effects and earn double points when you trigger the elusive Frenzy mode. Clear lines back-to-back to stay in Frenzy and get blown away by stunning cascades that keep the points rolling in.

PLAY YOUR FRIENDS
Celebrate your high score and brag as you fly past your friends on the Facebook leaderboards. Tournaments reset every week – so there’s always another chance for victory.

BLITZ YOUR WAY
Take charge of your game with all-new controls like the innovative “Drag-and-Place” option that lets you tap and drag pieces with precision. You can also choose the lightning fast “One-Touch” controls or “Swipe” placement if you prefer the original controls.

FINISHERS AND DAILY BLITZ
Watch your game end in a point-boosting, mind-blowing blast of visual fun with Finishers! You can also try to clear the board with the Bonus Blitz and score rewards like Coin packs, Power-up bundles, and more.

Are you ready to Blitz? Come feel the frenzy now!

View In iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tetris-blitz/id632827808?mt=8

Source: http://www.appslooking.com/apps/tetris-blitz-review-race-against-the-clock-in-a-two-minute-blitz-to-clear-lines/